Construction: On the Move

Photographs by Douglas Fraser

As the MacLean Engineering Sciences Center enters its final phases of construction, anticipation is rising for building plans of another sort: the move into Thayer School’s expanded quarters. The move is expected to take six weeks, beginning in May and ending in June.

The task of determining who moves to MacLean and who stays in Cummings Hall has fallen from the start to five building committee members, professors William Lotko, Christopher Levey, and Peter Robbie, financial executive officer Lawrence McKinnon, and facilities manager Gary Durkee.

So who moves? Several labs and faculty offices, reception, the admissions office, the instrument room, and Dartmouth Formula Racing, to name a few MacLean occupants. There are other moves afoot, too. Several offices and labs gain breathing room by shifting into Cummings’ vacated spaces. And Thayer School’s development and communications offices return to Cummings Hall after three years off campus.

The move may sound like a nightmare, but Durkee, who is heading up the physical relocations, makes it seem like a logistical dream. “Hours of planning have gone into the move,” he says calmly. “It’s a matter of design, plan, and execute.”

According to Durkee, he, his four staff members, and some additional movers will handle the physical work. He expects the job will continue through evenings and weekends. “We want the least interruption during the process,” he says.

And when it’s finally done, the celebrations will begin. Thayer School invites everyone to attend Dartmouth’s official dedication of MacLean Engineering Sciences Center Friday, September 29, 2006.